Pearl-producing molluscs (CIBJO Annex D)

This reference page belongs to the family Pearl and molluscan shell materials.

LumaLark's summaries of the 83 entries in Annex D of the CIBJO Pearl Book (2024), “Pearl producing mollusc descriptions and definitions”. Scientific names, authors and common names are given as printed in the source, spellings included.

Pearl oysters

Akoya pearl oyster

Trade and Japanese name for Pinctada fucata (martensii) (§9.54). It is the main oyster for pearl culture in Japan, China, Australia and elsewhere; it has also produced small numbers of natural pearls.

Common names: Akoya (Japanese name)

Entries on this site: Akoya Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.3, p.55

Akoya complex

Umbrella label for the closely related forms P. fucata, P. martensii, P. radiata and P. imbricata, treated together as one species complex.

Entries on this site: Akoya Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.4, p.55

Atlantic pearl oyster

Common name of Pinctada imbricata (§9.55), native to the Caribbean and the south-eastern coast of North America; its beds were worked by Spanish pearl divers in the 1500s and 1600s.

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.8, p.56

Australian akoya pearl oyster

Native oyster of the Central Coast region of New South Wales that yields the Australian Akoya cultured pearl: light to dark golden-yellow to orange, blue, silver and white, sometimes dark; on average 6.5–8.0 mm, occasionally over 10 mm after about 18 months of culture. Beadless cultured pearls may also form. The source gives no scientific name for it.

Entries on this site: Akoya Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.9, p.56

Australian south-sea pearl oyster

Mostly the silver-lipped form of Pinctada maxima (§9.60), the biggest pearl oyster. In Australian waters it has supplied large natural pearls and mother-of-pearl, and is now farmed off north-western and western Australia for South-sea cultured pearls (§5.186).

Entries on this site: Mother-of-Pearl / Nacre, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl, South Sea Cultured Pearl, White South Sea Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.10, p.56

Black-lipped pearl oyster

Common name of Pinctada margaritifera cumingii (§9.58), the main oyster of French Polynesian pearl farming and the most widely spread pearl oyster; natural pearls were gathered from it in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific islands, Mexico and Okinawa. The entry also lists related forms by region: P. galtsoffi (Hawaii), P. mazatlanica (§9.61; Pearl Islands, Panama, and Gulf of California), P. erethraensis (Red Sea), P. persica (Arabian Gulf) and P. zanzibarensis (East Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles).

Entries on this site: Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl, Tahitian Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.11, p.56

Ceylon pearl oyster

Common name of Pinctada radiata (§9.62), also called the Gulf pearl oyster. Native to the Gulf of Mannar, the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, it has the longest record of continuous harvesting of any pearl oyster.

Common names: Gulf pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.13, p.57

Gold-lipped pearl oyster

A form of Pinctada maxima (§9.60) widely farmed for pearls in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Cross-reference: Silver-lipped pearl oyster (§9.78).

Entries on this site: Saltwater Cultured Pearl, South Sea Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.26, p.59

Gulf pearl oyster

Another common name of Pinctada radiata (§9.62), also called the Ceylon pearl oyster; same content as §9.13 (Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Mannar; longest harvesting record).

Common names: Ceylon pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.27, p.59

La Paz pearl oyster

Common name of Pinctada mazatlanica (§9.61), an eastern Pacific oyster now farmed in the Gulf of California for cultured blisters and cultured pearls (§5.55).

Common names: Panamic black lipped oyster

Entries on this site: Saltwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.33, p.59

Pinctada fucata (Gould. 1857)

The Akoya (§5.5) pearl oyster (§9.3), called Pinctada martensii (§9.57) in Japan and sometimes ranked as a subspecies of P. imbricata (§9.55). Medium-sized, rather inflated, fragile shell with a rough exterior of greyish-purple layered scales overhanging the margins; the byssal notch sits under a small wing of the hinge. Ranges from Japan to China and Vietnam.

Common names: Akoya pearl oyster; Pinctada martensii (name used in Japan)

Entries on this site: Akoya Cultured Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Keshi Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.54, p.64

Pinctada imbricata (Röding, 1798)

Western Atlantic pearl oyster, from Bermuda and Florida to Brazil; the source of Venezuelan pearls and of the pearls of Columbus's voyages.

Common names: Atlantic pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.55, p.64

Pinctada maculata (Gould, 1850)

Small pearl oyster (pipi) common across French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, giving small natural pearls and some bead cultured blisters (§9.63).

Common names: pipi

Entries on this site: Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.56, p.64

Pinctada martensii

Name used in Japan for Pinctada fucata; the source sends the reader to §9.54 and the Akoya oyster (§5.5, §9.3), calls it Martins pearl oyster, and repeats the shell description and Japan–China–Vietnam range given in §9.54.

Common names: Martins pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Akoya Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.57, p.64

Pinctada margaritifera cumingii (Linnaeus, 1758)

Large oyster with equal flattened valves, a rich silver-grey nacreous interior bordered with grey-black, and an exterior of concentric flaky green and grey scales. Source of naturally coloured black pearls, both natural and cultured, from French Polynesia (§5.195–§5.197), the Cook Islands, Okinawa and other South-Sea islands.

Common names: Tahitian black-lipped pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Keshi Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl, Tahitian Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.58, p.64

Pinctada margaritifera typica (Jameson 1901)

Widely spread western Pacific oyster found from Fiji and Australia to southern Japan. Unlike the black-lipped cumingii form (§9.58) it has its own body and shell colouring and occurs in much smaller populations, so it was long thought unfit for commercial pearling. Research in the 1990s found mixed cumingii and typica traits in oysters around Fiji's main islands; naturally coloured cultured pearls from there are sold as Fiji Cultured Pearls.

Common names: Fiji Cultured Pearls (trade name of its pearls); Fijian Pearl Oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.59, p.64

Pinctada maxima (Jameson, 1901)

The largest pearl oyster, silver- or gold-lipped, with regional names: Australian and Indonesian (mainly silver-lipped), Philippine (mainly gold-lipped) and Asian South-sea pearl oyster (mainly silver-lipped). Pearling fleets once dived for it for large natural pearls and prized mother-of-pearl (§5.123); today it is the main oyster for South-sea cultured pearls (§5.185) in Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and elsewhere.

Common names: Asian South-sea Pearl Oyster; Australian South-Sea pearl oyster; Indonesian SouthSea Pearl Oyster; Philippine South-sea Pearl Oyster; silver-lipped / golden-lipped pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Keshi Cultured Pearl, Mother-of-Pearl / Nacre, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl, South Sea Cultured Pearl, White South Sea Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.60, p.65

Pinctada mazatlanica (Hanley, 1856)

Medium-sized oyster (about 18 cm) with equal flattened valves, a silver-grey nacreous interior edged with a green or golden sheen, and flaky light-brown and green outer scales. Ranges from the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) to Peru. Its fisheries supplied naturally coloured pearls from light grey to black with pink, gold and green tones (“New World Natural Pearls”); it was the first species farmed commercially for pearls, at La Paz, Baja California Sur, and today yields small quantities of mabe and bead cultured pearls. The source adds historical Spanish names (Madreperla; Concha de la Hostia, recorded by Fray Bernardino de Sahagún, 1580; Concha Perla / Madre Perla) and Hanley's 1856 original combination Pteria (Margaritifera) margaritifera var. mazatlanica.

Common names: Concha de la Hostia; Concha Perla; La Paz Pearl Oyster; Madre Perla; Madreperla; Panamic Black-Lipped pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.61, p.65

Pinctada radiata (Leache, 1814)

The Ceylon or Gulf pearl oyster (§9.13), sometimes treated as a variety of P. imbricata (§9.55); ranges through the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Common names: Ceylon Pearl Oyster; Gulf Pearl Oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.62, p.65

Pipi Pearl Oyster

Pinctada maculata (Gould, 1850)

Common-name entry for Pinctada maculata (§9.56); it repeats §9.56 (small natural pearls, some bead cultured blisters; French Polynesia and the Cook Islands).

Common names: pipi

Entries on this site: Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.63, p.65

Pteria penguin (Röding, 1798)

The Mabe (§5.112) pearl oyster (§9.39), also called the black-winged pearl oyster: an oval, fairly fragile shell with unequal valves (the right valve, which is the upper one, more inflated) and a characteristic extension of the hinge line.

Common names: black-winged pearl oyster; Mabe pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Mabe Assembled Cultured Blister

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.68, p.66

Pteria sterna (Gould, 1851)

Winged oyster with two unequal side extensions; thin, purplish-brown to silver-grey shell, usually up to 14 cm, with concentric brown to black outer scales. Ranges from the Pacific side of Baja California through the Gulf of California to Peru. Its fisheries once supplied large numbers of naturally coloured pearls, light grey to dark purple with pink, gold and green tones; since the 1990s it has been used for nacreous cultured blisters (§5.131) and beaded cultured pearls (§5.19) sold as Cortez cultured pearls.

Common names: Cortez cultured pearls (trade name of its pearls); rainbow-lipped pearl oyster; western winged pearl oyster

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.69, p.66

Silver-lipped pearl oyster

A form of Pinctada maxima (§9.60) widely farmed for pearls in Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. Cross-reference: Gold-lipped pearl oyster (§9.26).

Entries on this site: Keshi Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, South Sea Cultured Pearl, White South Sea Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.78, p.68

Freshwater mussels

Actinonaias pectorosa (Conrad, 1834)

A large, thick-shelled, roughly oval freshwater mussel of the Tennessee and Cumberland river basins (USA) that yields natural pearls. It lives in sand and gravel under fast current. The periostracum is golden brown with broken green rays, turning brown or black in older shells; the nacre ranges from bluish to cream or silvery white, iridescent at the edges.

Common names: Cumberland Mucket; Pheasant shell

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.2, p.55

Amblema plicata (Say, 1817)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Elongate to rounded shell, ridged or folded on the rear half and smooth at the front; nacre white and iridescent, often stained, some with a purple tint. Lives in small to large rivers and reservoirs on mud, sand or gravel.

Common names: Blue-point; fluter; purple-tip; three ridge mussel

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.6, p.55

Cristaria plicata (Leach, 1815)

Freshwater mussel first used for pearl culture in both Japan and China. The source gives its Chinese name in pinyin, and in Japan it is called the Karasu mussel.

Common names: Cockscomb Pearl Mussel; Karasu mussel (Japan); zhou wen guan bang (Chinese)

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.16, p.57

Cumberlandia monodonta (Say, 1829)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Elongate shell, often pinched at the middle, dark brown to black, with weak hinge teeth; white iridescent nacre; up to 20.3 cm. Lives in large swift rivers among boulders, in sand, cobble or gravel where the current slackens.

Common names: Spectacle case

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.17, p.57

Cyclonaias tuberculata (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Rounded shell with a fairly marked wing, finely wavy-sculptured beak, no green umbo stripe and a deep, compressed beak cavity. Nacre usually deep purple, sometimes white with a purple tinge. Lives in medium to large rivers on gravel or sand-gravel.

Common names: deerhorn; Missouri mapleleaf; purple pimpleback; Purple Wartyback

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.18, p.57

Cyrtonaias tampicoensis (Lea, 1838)

Texas (USA) freshwater mussel with an almost smooth shell that can exceed 130 mm; outside yellowish brown to dark brown or black, nacre usually purple but sometimes multicoloured, and its pearls take the nacre colours. Found from small streams to large reservoirs in water shallower than about 20 feet.

Common names: Tampico pearly mussel

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.19, p.58

Ellipsaria lineolata (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Flattened triangular shell with a sharp rear ridge, yellowish brown with broken brown rays; white iridescent nacre; up to 10.2 cm. Lives in large rivers on sand or gravel.

Common names: Butterfly

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.20, p.58

Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck, 1819)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Heavy, solid, triangular shell with dark brown to black skin; nacre variable, mostly purple, sometimes pink or white; up to about 15.2 cm. Lives in large rivers on mud, sand or fine gravel.

Common names: blue ham; Elephant-ear; Mule's ear

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.21, p.58

Fusconaia flava (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Triangular shell, usually with a shallow side groove, rough cloth-like skin and a deep beak cavity; nacre white or salmon-tinged, iridescent. Found from creeks to large rivers on mud, sand or gravel.

Common names: Pigtoe; Wabash Pigtoe

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.23, p.58

Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea, 1852)

Freshwater mussel native to China and Vietnam, with a thicker shell than the cockscomb mussel (Cristaria plicata, §9.16) and pink to peach nacre. Its natural and cultured pearls come in many colours, from white through pink and lavender to deep rose.

Common names: Triangleshell pearl mussel

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.31, p.59

Hyriopsis schlegelii (Martens, 1861)

Freshwater mussel used in Lake Biwa, Japan, to grow cultured pearls without a bead nucleus.

Common names: Biwa pearly mussel

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.32, p.59

Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck, 1819)

Asian freshwater mussel (family Unionidae) of the Ganges (India, Nepal) and the Indus basin (Pakistan). In Bangladesh, attempts have been made to grow cultured blisters in it over paraffin-wax moulds; the trade calls them “image pearls”.

Common names: image pearls (trade name of its moulded blisters)

Entries on this site: Freshwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.34, p.60

Lasmigona complanata (Barnes, 1823)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Large, rounded, flat and fairly thin shell, bluntly pointed behind, dark brown to black skin, double-looped beak sculpture; nacre bluish white or white, iridescent. Lives in pools and slow streams on mud, sand or fine gravel.

Common names: elephant-ear; hackle-back; Pancake; razorback; White Heelsplitter

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.35, p.60

Ligumia recta (Lamarck, 1819)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Elongate, smooth shell pointed at the rear, usually dark brown to black; nacre varies from white, pink and salmon to deep purple, iridescent; up to 20.3 cm.

Common names: Black sand mussel; Black sandshell; honest John; lady's slipper; long John; sow's ear

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.36, p.60

Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)

Europe's and North America's freshwater pearl mussel, up to 140 mm long. It buries itself in sand among stones in fast rivers and needs cool, oxygen-rich, soft, clean water. Its larvae (glochidia) ride on the gills of salmon-family fish from mid/late summer to the next spring, then drop to the gravel bed to grow. The source adds a pointer to CITES.

Common names: freshwater pearl mussel

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.41, p.61

Megalonaias nervosa (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Large black shell, heavily sculptured with V-shaped ridges in front and big folds on the sides and back (most marked in small shells); white iridescent nacre, often blotched purple or copper. Lives mainly in large rivers with good current. Its shell is cut into the beads used as nuclei for beaded cultured pearls (§5.19); since the 1970s it has also been used for nacreous cultured blisters and bead cultured pearls sold as American Cultured Pearls (Fancishapes, Domé Pearl®) and Lagniappe Cultured Pearls.

Common names: American Cultured Pearls (aka Fancishapes & Domé Pearl®); Bald-pate; board; Lagniappe Cultured Pearls; Washboard

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.42, p.61

Obliquaria reflexaria (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls, told apart from every other Midwest species by large knobs alternating from side to side. Lives in large rivers on sand or gravel and can be locally common in reservoirs.

Common names: Hornyback; reflexa; three dot; Three Horned; three knot; Threehorn Wartyback

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.53, p.63

Potamilus purpuratus (Lamarck1819)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Elongate, rectangular, inflated shell, dark green to black, with purple or pink nacre; lives in large rivers such as the Mississippi on mud or mud-gravel.

Common names: Bleufer; blue mucket; purple pocketbook

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.65, p.65

Potamilus alatus (Say, 1817)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Elongate, rectangular shell with a well-developed rear wing, dark green to dark brown, purple or pink nacre, up to 20.3 cm; lives in medium to large rivers on mud or mud-sand-gravel.

Common names: hatchet-back; pancake; Pink Heelsplitter; Purple Heelsplitter

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.66, p.66

Proptera purpurata (Lamarck, 1819)

Synonym; the accepted name is Potamilus purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) (§9.65), a US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls.

Common names: bleufer; purple pocketbook

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.67, p.66

Quadrula metanevra (Rafinesque, 1820)

Obsolete name of Theliderma metanevra, a US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Rounded or squarish shell with big knobs along the rear ridge and a notch in the rear margin that recalls a chimpanzee's profile, often with zigzag markings; up to 10.2 cm; lives in medium to large rivers on gravel or sand-gravel.

Common names: Knobbed rock shell; Monkey face; Theliderma metanevra (Rafinesque, 1820) (current name)

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.70, p.66

Quadrula nodulata (Rafinesque, 1822)

Obsolete name of Cyclonaias nodulata, a US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Rounded shell with two rows of paired knobs on the rear half and no groove; white iridescent nacre; lives in large rivers or the lower reaches of medium rivers on sand or fine gravel.

Common names: Cyclonaias nodulata (Rafinesque, 1820) (current name); nodule shell; pimpleback; Two-horned pocketbook; Wartyback; winged orb shell; winged pimpleback

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.71, p.67

Quadrula pustulosa (Lea, 1831)

Obsolete name of Cyclonaias pustulosa, a US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Rounded shell with a green umbo stripe, usually thick with pustules; deep, open beak cavity (unlike the compressed one of the purple wartyback); up to 10.2 cm; white iridescent nacre.

Common names: Cyclonaias pustulosa (Lea, 1831) (current name); Pimpleback; Warty Pigtoe; Wartyback

Entries on this site: Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.72, p.67

Quadrula quadrula (Rafinesque, 1820)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls. Fairly thick, squarish shell with strong teeth and two rows of pustules separated by a groove; up to 10.2 cm; lives in medium to large rivers and reservoirs on mud, sand or gravel.

Common names: Mapleleaf; Stranger

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.73, p.67

Reginaia ebenus (Lea, 1831)

US freshwater mussel that yields natural pearls, formerly Fusconaia ebena. Round, heavy, thick brown or black shell without rays or pustules and with a very deep beak cavity; white iridescent nacre; up to 10.2 cm; lives in large rivers on sand and gravel.

Common names: Ebonyshell; Fusconaia ebena (Lea, 1831) (former name)

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.75, p.67

Triangleshell pearl mussel

Common-name entry for Hyriopsis cumingii (§9.31), now the main freshwater mussel for pearl culture in China.

Entries on this site: Freshwater Cultured Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.81, p.68

Marine gastropods

Abalone

Collective name for the ear-shaped sea snails of genus Haliotis (§9.28). Their nacre shows many hues, from blue and green to cream, red and purple; the animal is eaten. They yield distinctive natural pearls and blisters; cultured blisters are grown in places such as California and New Zealand, and the shell has served as mother-of-pearl. In New Zealand they are called paua, and in Japan awabi.

Common names: awabi (Japan); paua (New Zealand)

Entries on this site: Abalone Pearl, Blister Pearl, Mother-of-Pearl / Nacre, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.1, p.55

Aliger gigas

Current scientific name of the Queen Conch of the Caribbean and Central America; earlier names Lobatus gigas and Strombus gigas are still met in trade literature. A very large snail with a wide flared lip and blunt knobs on the whorl shoulders. It yields pink (and other coloured) conch pearls and a few cultured pearls. The source adds a pointer to CITES.

Common names: Lobatus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) (former name); Queen Conch; Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) (former name, still used in industry texts)

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Cultured Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.5, p.55

Cassis madagascariensis (Lamarck, 1822)

Large helmet shell (family Cassidae) with a nearly flat spire, three spiral rows of blunt knobs and fine axial ridges. The underside is peach-orange, matching the colour of some of its pearls; the lip carries about ten strong teeth.

Common names: Emperor Helmet

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.12, p.56

Conch

Common name for several large sea snails (gastropods, §9.24). The source names three: the Emperor Helmet (§9.12, Cassis madagascariensis; also §9.22), the Horse Conch (§9.83, Triplofusus giganteus, earlier Pleuroploca gigantea) and the Queen Conch (§9.5, Aliger gigas; earlier Lobatus gigas / Strombus gigas, §9.38). The source adds a pointer to CITES.

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.15, p.57

Haliotis

The abalone genus (family Haliotidae; see §9.1), a large group of sea snails also called ormers or sea ears. Shells are flat with hardly any spire, oval or round, with a row of holes on the body whorl and a brightly iridescent interior. They live from the low-tide zone down to several hundred feet.

Common names: ormers; sea ears

Entries on this site: Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.28, p.59

Melo aethiopica (Linnaeus, 1758)

One of the Melo volutes (marine gastropod, §5.116), mainly Indonesian, ranging from Java to Papua New Guinea; it is reported to live on thick volcanic sand in shallow water. Usually 200–250 mm (record 348 mm); light brown to mahogany with a bright yellow tip, 14–18 spines below the suture per whorl and three columellar folds, sometimes a cream-yellow band. Not fished regularly; in Papua New Guinea it is the bailer shell used for traditional jewellery. See Melo pearl (§5.119).

Common names: bailer shell (Papua New Guinea use)

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.43, p.61

Melo amphora (Lamarck, 1816)

Melo volute (§5.116) of the whole northern coast of Australia and southern New Guinea, on sand and sandy mud from the shore to 10 m. Usually 300–468 mm (record 524 mm); wide cream tip; long straight spines only on the first 2.5 whorls, none on the last adult whorl (its best field mark); three strong columellar folds. Its range overlaps M. aethiopica, of which it may be a southern variant. See Melo pearl (§5.119).

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.44, p.62

Melo broderipii (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834)

Melo volute (§5.116) mainly of the Philippines, also recorded from New Guinea, on sand and mud from the shore to about 10 m. Usually 250–350 mm (record 371 mm); 20–25 spines per whorl, four columellar folds; pale cream-brown with dark chocolate flecks that thin out on the last whorl. See Melo pearl (§5.119).

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.45, p.62

Melo georginae (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834)

Melo volute (§5.116) confined to the southern Queensland coast, Australia; it lives on sand from 2 to 90 m, deeper than any other Melo species; 200–300 mm. Pink tip; pinkish-white or cream shell with broad bright-orange net markings enclosing white triangles and two dark spiral bands on the last whorl. See Melo pearl (§5.119).

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.46, p.62

Melo melo (Lightfoot, 1786)

Melo volute (§5.116) ranging from the South China Sea south and west to Singapore and the Andaman Sea, on mud from the shore to 70 m. Usually 150–275 mm (record 362 mm); the last whorl covers the tip; no spines; three columellar folds; usually two or three bands of scattered dark flecks. See Melo pearl (§5.119).

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.47, p.62

Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840)

The largest of the tulip shells, formerly named Pleuroploca gigantea. Tall spire, angular whorls with blunt knobs on the shoulders; shell beige to light brown with a pale orange opening, and its non-nacreous pearls share these colours. Lives in shallow water just below the low-tide line.

Common names: Florida Horse Conch; Pleuroploca gigantea (Kiener, 1840) (former name)

Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.83, p.68

Other marine bivalves

Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819)

Pacific scallop of the coast from northern Peru to central Chile, living on soft bottoms in sheltered water and fished commercially. Its pearls are compared with those of the Lion's Paw scallops (§9.37).

Common names: Chilean scallop; Peruvian calico scallop; Peruvian scallop

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.7, p.56

Hippopus spp.

Clams of this genus, H. hippopus and H. purpuratus, produce clam pearls. The source adds a pointer to CITES.

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Giant Clam Shell, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.29, p.59

Lion’s Paw

Name shared by three scallops: the very rare Nodipecten magnificus (Sowerby, 1835), mostly confined to the Galapagos; N. nodosus (Linnaeus 1758), the Atlantic Lion's Paw, from the south-eastern USA to Brazil; and N. subnodosus (Sowerby 1835), the Pacific Lion's Paw (also called Mano de Leon), the largest tropical scallop, off western Central America at 25–150 m. Shells are brown to chocolate, yellow or orange outside and pearly white to purple or brown inside; N. nodosus usually has rows of rounded knobs on about eight ribs (some southern Caribbean shells are smooth), which N. subnodosus lacks. Both have equal fan-shaped valves with unequal ears, and, per the source, these scallops may yield natural non-nacreous pearls of a distinctive kind.

Common names: Atlantic Lion’s Paw (N. nodosus); Pacific Lion’s Paw / Mano de Leon (N. subnodosus)

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.37, p.60

Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Commercially important clam (family Veneridae) of the east coast of North America, burrowing shallowly in mud or sand in shallow water and feeding by filtering. It yields clam pearls (§5.41) in shades of purple. The heavy shell is pale brown to grey and white with growth rings outside and a deep purple zone inside near the rear edge and hinge.

Common names: cherrystone; chowder clam; hardshell; littleneck; northern quahog; Venus mercenaria

Entries on this site: Natural Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.48, p.63

Modiolus philippinarum (Hanley, 1843)

Marine brown mussel (family Mytilidae) fished for food in the Philippines, Mozambique and Madagascar; now and then it contains cream, purple or black nacreous natural pearls up to 9 mm across.

Common names: Philippine horse mussel

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.49, p.63

Mytilus californianus Conrad, 1837

Large edible mussel (family Mytilidae) of the North American west coast, from northern Mexico to the Aleutians, forming dense clusters on surf-beaten rocks high in the intertidal zone. One mussel can hold several pearls.

Common names: California mussel

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.50, p.63

Rubitapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Edible clam (family Veneridae) with a white, sometimes purple-patched nacreous interior; occasionally yields small nacreous natural pearls up to 2 mm, exceptionally over 5 mm.

Common names: cross-cut carpet shell; palourde (France)

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.76, p.67

Scallop

Scallops (family Pectinidae) that the source lists as pearl producers: Argopecten purpuratus (Chilean sea scallop), Placopecten magellanicus (Atlantic Sea Scallop), and the two Lion's Paws, Nodipecten (Lyropecten) nodosus (Atlantic) and N. (L.) subnodosus (Pacific). Long used by people for food and ornament; fan-shaped, with varying ears and sculpture; their colours and patterns make them collectors' items, study subjects and emblems (the source cites Shell Oil).

Common names: Atlantic Lion’s Paw; Atlantic Sea Scallop; Chilean sea scallop; Pacific Lion’s Paw

Entries on this site: Natural Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.77, p.68

Spiny pearl

Pearls from thorny oysters (Spondylus spp., notably S. princeps of Central America). They are non-nacreous and often layered, in colours from white and yellow through orange and brown to purple, at times with a bluish surface sheen or flame pattern; also sold as spondylus pearls.

Common names: spondylus pearl

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.79, p.68

Spondylus spp.

Thorny or spiny oysters (family Spondylidae) of tropical and subtropical seas; they occasionally produce non-nacreous pearls (colours from white and yellow through orange and brown to purple; a bluish surface sheen or flame pattern may occur), sold as spiny or Spondylus pearls (§9.79). Their pink-to-red shells were widely used in prehistory, notably by pre-Columbian cultures, as ornament and currency.

Common names: spiny oysters; thorny oysters

Entries on this site: Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.80, p.68

Tridacna gigas (Linnaeus, 1758)

The largest and heaviest known mollusc, with the two valves together weighing up to about 225 kg. Elongate oval, equal valves with about five wavy rounded ribs; porcelain-white interior, and its pearls are white too. Found across the Indo-Pacific. The source adds a pointer to CITES.

Common names: Giant Clam

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Giant Clam Shell, Natural Pearl, Saltwater Natural Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.82, p.68

Cephalopods

Chambered Nautilus

A tropical Pacific relative of the octopus, almost unchanged for over 150 million years; it has more than 90 grooved tentacles and moves by jet propulsion through a steerable siphon. The source cross-refers to Coque de perle (§5.50) and adds a pointer to CITES.

The source’s note on this entry points to CITES.

Entries on this site: Imitation Pearl

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.14, p.57

General terms

Gastropod

A mollusc with a single shell, often with a head bearing eyes; the group covers land and sea snails. The source points to §5.48 and §5.119 as examples.

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.24, p.58

Margaritifera

A name used for three different taxa: the present genus of a group of freshwater pearl mussels, including Margaritifera margaritifera (§9.41) of Europe and North America; the species name of the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera cumingii (§9.58); and the species name of the Fijian pearl oyster, P. margaritifera typica. It comes from Latin margarita and Greek margaron, both meaning pearl.

CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): Annex D §9.40, p.61

Entries in Annex D that only point to another entry: Mabe pearl oyster (§9.39) → §9.68 Pteria penguin · Entries on this site: Mabe Assembled Cultured Blister; Emperor Helmet (§9.22) → §9.12 Cassis madagascariensis · Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl; Horse Conch (§9.30) → §9.83 Triplofusus giganteus · Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl; Lobatus gigas (§9.38) → §9.5 Aliger gigas · Entries on this site: Cultured Pearl, Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl; Queen Conch (§9.74) → §9.5 Aliger gigas, §9.38 Lobatus gigas · Entries on this site: Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl; Giant Clam (§9.25) → §9.82 Tridacna gigas · Entries on this site: Giant Clam Shell; Nodipecten (Lyropecten) nodosus (§9.51) → §9.77 Scallop, §9.37 Lion’s Paw; Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus (§9.52) → §9.77 Scallop, §9.37 Lion’s Paw; Placopecten magellanicus (§9.64) → §9.77 Scallop

Localities listed in industry literature (CIBJO Annex E)

Localities listed in industry literature: Annex E of the CIBJO Pearl Book, which the source marks as informative. It mixes ancient records, historical fisheries, experimental farms and current production, and says nothing about whether or how much a place produces today. LumaLark's note: it is a list, not a basis for assigning an origin to any individual pearl.

§10.1 Freshwater natural pearls (p.70)

§10.2 Saltwater natural pearls (p.71)

§10.3 Freshwater cultured pearls (p.73)

§10.4 Saltwater cultured pearls (p.74)